Copyright: GetPro ® 1993 by Fred L. Freel


GetPro
Micro-GetPro 1.0

A Desktop Organizer for Windows 3.1

Copyright 1993 by Fred L. Freel

and Micro-Bytes\WordWare

This is a Limited License 30-day Evaluation Version

Thank you for evaluating Micro-GetPro.  We're sure you will find GetPro a valuable, time saving application.

In the true spirit of Shareware, and to facilitate a complete assessment of the product, this copy of GetPro is fully functional.  You must pay the registration fee if you plan to continue to use Micro-GetPro after the 30 day evaluation period has expired.

Continued enhancement of this program and the development of new products depends on your support.  Micro-Bytes\WordWare is dedicated to providing you with low cost, high quality shareware software.  Every registration helps insure that quality shareware products continue to be a viable option in the software marketplace.

Unlike some Shareware software, this is a fully working version of Micro-GetPro, but is for evaluation purposes only.  Shareware software is always provided to the user for evaluation purposes.  The user, if satisfied with it's performance, is obligated to pay a registration fee to continue using it.  An unregistered version of Micro-GetPro will not function without ORDER-ME.EXE resident in your Windows directory.

Upon Registration, you will receive notificationby mail as to disabling the Request to Registration form.  You can then delete it from your hard disk, and save 60+K of storage space.  Access to this Help file will also be altered, whereas selecting the Help Button [image] will take you directly to Contents, rather than this Registration message.

Please fill out the Registration Form accessed by clicking on our [image] logo in the GetPro Configurator, or responding "Register" when the About Window is visible.  The Registration Form is designed for use on VGA displays of 800x600 resolution or better.  If you have lesser resolution, select Help with Registration Form in the Registration Form menu.  Fill in the necessary information, then return to the original Registration Form.  You may then print the 800x600 Registration Form.  Pricing and mailing information are included on the Registration Form.

The very low price of this software precludes our offering telephone technical support to registered users, but we will try to answer any pertinent correspondence either by mail or via Email.  If you need additional information, please refer to the following address:

Fred L. Freel

Micro-Bytes\WordWare

7544 Winnetka Avenue

Winnetka, California 91306

70642, 673 Compuserve

Ffreel, America On Line

Thanks . . . Fred Freel, Micro-Bytes\WordWare

Contents


License
Micro-GetPro 1.0 Registered User License Agreement

This License Agreement permits you to use one copy of the software version specified above on any single computer.  If the software is permanently installed on the hard disk or other storage device of a computer other than a network server, and is used by one person on that computer for more than 80 percent of the time it is in use, then that person may also use the software on a portable or home computer.

The software is owned by Micro-Bytes\WordWare or its suppliers, and is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions.  You must treat the software like any other copyrighted material, with two exceptions:  (1) You may make on copy of the software for backup or archival purposes.  (2) You transfer the software to a single hard disk provided you keep the original solely for backup and archival purposes.  You may not copy the written materials accompanying the software.


Warranty
Limited Warranty

Micro-Bytes\WordWare or its suppliers warrants that the software will perform substantially in accordance with the accompanying documentation for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of registration.

The information and code provided hereunder (collectively referred to as "software") is provided as is without other warranty than described above, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.  In no event shall Micro-Bytes\WordWare or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Micro-Bytes\WordWare or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages.


Using GetPro
Using GetPro 1.0

Though this may seem a lengthy Help File, don't feel intimidated.  Be assured that GetPro is very easy to use, once you've experimented with a few programs.  GetPro is designed to position specific programs for quick access on the Windows Desktop outside Program Manager.  For execution, a copy of Visual Basic's dynamic link library, VBRUN200.DLL, must be located in your system's execution path.

Typically, programs such as Excel, Word for Windows, Access, and such, create there own Program Manager Group during installation.  This means, if you want to have those programs at your finger tips, their groups must be open in Program Manager to allow quick access to their startup icons.

GetPro will allow you to position your much used programs outside Program Manager, and leave the latter for use with Program Groups of more utility value.

Set Up

Configuration


Contents

Installation	Using GetPro

Set Up	Configuration

Repositioning	Icon Identification

Using Startup Group	Typical Application

How GetPro Works	Closing a GetPro Button

Register	License	Warranty


Icon Identification

Each time you use a new GetPro icon in your Program Group to create a new Program Button, it will be necessary to set that icon's Properties in Program Manager.  Click on the GetPro icon you have configured and, from the Program Manager File menu, select Properties.

The first GetPro icon you set the properties for should be one with a Configure Description with a "C" Parameter as shown here.  Notice that the "C" has been appended to GETPRO.EXE.  This will load GetPro in the configuration mode.

For each Button you configure you must append a space and the number of the GetPro Configuration you are working with in the Command Line Box, in this case it is "4."

Do not set the working directory for a GetPro Button unless you are certain where the program you are running with that Button will look for it's files.  Many programs you attach to GetPro Button may be able to determine their own working directory.  If not, you can go back and reset this property, as shown here.

Configuration


GetPro Setup

The New Pro icon mentioned herein is the default GetPro program icon that's been dragged into your Program Group.  For the Help icon to work from Program Manager, Winhelp.exe must be "associated" with *.hlp files in File Manager.

Before you begin using GetPro, you must install additional GetPro icons in the program group you've selected to hold them.  This is done very simply; with the group positioned near the edge of Program Manager, and File Manager open on top of Program Manager, click on GETPRO.EXE, and holding the mouse button down, drag the file into the group in Program Manager.  Drag about seven of them over there.  That should be enough to get you started.

Theoretically, GetPro supports up to 99 Program Buttons, but Windows' resource limitations will not allow you to run that many at one time.  You'll have to experiment with your particular system to determine the maximum number of Buttons practical.  Our tests have shown that each GetPro Button takes about 2.6% of system resources.

Icon Identification


Configuring GetPro
GetPro Configuration

Note:  Hypergraphics are used.  Click on a control for more info.

When you run GetPro without a Command Line Parameter it will display an empty GetPro Configurator, ready for selecting a new program to configure.  Notice that a new command parameter is already in evidence.  If you Cancel the current configuration, this parameter will not be used, and will be used the next time GetPro is run .

Use the following steps to configure your GetPro Button:

[1]  Locate the drive and directory where the program is located.  [2]  Click on the program name to highlight it.  Only EXE files will be displayed.  [3]  Click on the Get Icon Button to capture the program's icon.  The icon will appear in the icon window, and in the new GetPro Button.  If no icon is returned, you are probably trying to configure a DOS program.  This version of GetPro does not support PIF files.  [4]  Using the diamond shaped position controller, move the new GetPro Button to a convenient position on the screen.  If you select the fine tune check box, the Button will move in smaller increments.  [5]  Determine whether you wish the GetPro Button to stay on-top, and check that box if required.  [6]  When you are certain the position is satisfactory, click on the Use Config button.  That program will be set up in your Windows directory as getproN.ini, where the ""N" is the command line parameter.  [7]  You must now set the Program Manager Properties for that icon.

You will be returned to an empty Configurator, with the next sequential Command Parameter displayed.  You can configure more Buttons, but after doing so, you must drag an equal amount of new GetPro icons from File Manager to configure their appropriate properties.


Repositioning
Repositioning a GetPro Button

When GetPro is run using the configuration "c" parameter, you will load this form for selecting the number of the GetPro INI file you want to change.  Thus, you should know the number of the Button before you enter the configuration mode.  The File Listing will be disabled, so the only changes available are repositioning the GetPro Button and toggling the stay on-top feature.

[1]  Using the diamond shaped position controller, move the GetPro Button to a more convenient position on the screen.  If you select the fine tune check box, the Button will move in smaller increments.  [2]  Determine whether you wish the GetPro Button to stay on-top, and check that box if required.  [3]  When you are certain the position is satisfactory, click on the Use Config button.


Closing
Closing a GetPro Button

You must use Task Manager to close a GetPro Program Button.  To access Task Manager, double-click on an empty portion of the Desktop.  As can be seen here, the GetPro Buttons that are active will be identified by their GetPro number and the program they're associated with.  They are organized in Task Manager in the order they were loaded.  If you used the Startup Group to load your Buttons, the first GetPro v1.0 listed will be the last one loaded.

Simply click on the one you want to close, then select End Task.


Startup Group
Using the Startup Group

The easiest way to apply GetPro to your system is to install the Run-Time icons in your Windows Startup Group.  This will cause your system to take a bit more time booting, or restarting Windows, but everything will be in position, ready to run.  The programs we've shown installed here are only examples.  You can use whatever combinations you want.  You should leave the GetPro (which is the default icon) and Configure icons in their original group, as you don't need them at startup.

To copy your selected files from one group to another select each icon individualy, and using the File menu in Program Manager, select Copy . . .

then scroll through the list of groups until you find Startup.  Once you've copied all of the required icons, you will have to restart windows.


Applying GetPro
A Typical GetPro Application

You can place your GetPro Program Buttons anywhere on the screen, though across the top and on each side of Program Manager is probably the most practical.  However, if you have any of GetPro's Buttons' "on-top" feature selected, it will be available even when you have another application maximized on your screen.

You might want to organize the position of the buttons so they don't cover up controls that are available in the other applications you are using.

The On-Top Buttons will even stay on top of Program Manager, as can be seen with this example using the PIF Editor.  Notice also that the active group in Program Manager does not lose its focus.  Thus, you can even have Program Manager maximized without losing access to your GetPro Buttons.


How GetPro Works

For each GetPro Button you configure, an INI and BMP file are created in your Windows directory.  They are identified by the Command Line Parameter Number for that Button.

If you want to delete a GetPro Button from your Program Group and/or Startup Group, you must also delete the relavent INI and BMP files after deleting the icon(s) from the Group(s).

If you have, say 10 Buttons configured, and you delete number 4, the next time you configure a new Button the number 4 slot will be refilled with the new configuration.  This will prevent getting numerous INI and BMP files crowding your Windows Directory.


Installation

You can install GetPro into an existing Program Group, or you can create a NEW group.

After you have unZipped GetPro, in File Manager, copy or drag GETPRO0.INI, GETPRO0.BMP, ORDER-ME.EXE and GETPRO.HLP into your Windows directory.  Then copy PICCLIP.VBX, THREED.VBX, and VBDIA.VBX into your Windows System directory.  If any of the VBX's already exist, it's not necessary to copy them.

With File Manager and Program Manager open at the same time, position the target group you've selected or created near the edge of Program Manager, so it will be visible under File Manager.

Click on GETPRO.EXE and GETPRO.HLP, and holding the mouse button down, drag the files into the target group.  Drag GETPRO.EXE about seven times.  This will provide you with a Configure icon, and six icons ready for adding programs to.

Next, you will have to set the identifying properties for the Configure icon.

Icon Identification


An object has the focus when it is able to receive user input from the mouse or keyboard.


From Program Manager select New from the File menu.  Then select New, Program Group.

Then fill in the Description and Group File Properties for your new Program Group.


icon window empty
This box will display the icon of the program you select with the Get Icon Button.


get icon button
  This button will capture the icon from the program you want to configure.


cancel button
  This button will cancel your configuration.  The number displayed in the getpro##.ini window will be used the next time you run GetPro.


use config button
  This button will write the necessary configuration information to the getpro##.ini file.


ini number
  This window reflects the number of the GetPro INI file being configured.


logo
  Clicking on our logo will allow you to fill out the Registration Form.  If your GetPro is registered, the "about" form will be displayed.


fine tune
  Selecting to fine tune will move the GetPro Button 100 pixels at a time.  The default is 1000 pixels.


stay on top
  This check box will toggle the GetPro Button's ability to stay on-top of other programs.


direction arrows
Use these direction arrows to move the GetPro button around the screen.  If you want to position the button in an area where the GetPro Configurator is positioned, set the on-top capability first, or you can drag the Configurator out of the way using it's Menu Bar.


command params
This field reflects how the GETPRO.EXE file and parameter should look in Program Manager's Command Line Properties.


context help
  You will be able to view these HyperGraphic notes directly using this GetHelp button while GetPro is running. The cursor will change to an up-arrow when you click on it.  Using the up-arrow, click on a control or field you want information on.


help
  This Help button will load GetPro's Help file.  If your GetPro is registered, you will be taken to the Contents window.  If not, you will be taken to the Registration information.


directory list
You can use the Drive and Directory controls to locate the program you want to configure.  GetPro defaults to the Windows directory.


file list
Only EXE files will be displayed in the file list windows.  This version of GetPro does not support DOS PIF files.


path params
This field will display the path to the file you select.


empty button
The GetPro Program Button will display our icon, until you select a program to configure.


icon window filled
Once you've selected a program to configure, this box will display the resultant BMP file that's been created.


file list with highlight
You can highlight the program you want to configure with a click of the mouse button.  Then click the Get Icon button to capture it's icon.  Double-clicking on the file name is a shortcut to the same result.


path to program
The execution path to the program you've selected will be displayed in this field.


button on top
After selecting a program, the GetPro Program Button will display the BMP that's been created for it.


files disabled
The files listing will be disabled when you are repositioning a program that's already been configured.


For each Button you configure you must append a space and the number of the GetPro Configuration you are working with in the Command Line Box, in this case it is "4."